Electrical switch



O. S. SWANSOIL ELECTRICALSWHCH. APPLICATION FILED DEC-H1, 1-9141.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

0. S. SWANSON.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-10.1918.

1,41 1 1 8 1 Patented Mar. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Attorney UNITED STATES OSCAR S. SWANSON, OF JAMESTQWN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL; SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented M31328, 1922.

Application filed December 10, 1918. Serial No. 266,091.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR S. SWANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains "to electrical switches; and it contemplates the provision of an electrical switch that is simple and inexpensive in construction, reliable, well adapted to withstand the usage to which electrical switches are ordinarily subjected, and calculated to lend itself to use in lamp sockets and many other applications.

The switch constructed in accordance with my invention is also, by reason of its characteristics, adapted to practically eliminate fire danger and, with the foregoing in mind, the invention consists in the peculiar construction, novel combinations and adaptation of parts as hereinafter described and explicitly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof:

Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of opposite sides of a lamp socket embodying my novel switch.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section showing the elementsof the switch.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4.-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 comprises perspectives of elements that'enter into the switch. Figures 6' to 9 are views of, a modified embodiment of my invention. 7

Referring by numeral to the said drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5 thereof:

1 is a threaded lamp socket, and 2 is the body thereof; said body being formed in two semi-circular sections, Figure 4, to one of which the socket 1 is suitably attached and preferably in a permanent manner. -The said sections are formed of suitable insulating material, and in the preferred embodiment one is provided with a key 3 and the other with a complementary depression 4, so that the two sections may be accurately registered incidental to assembling.- It will also be apparent that the complementary key and depression will assist in holding-the sections to ther in proper working relation.

11 Figures 1 and 2 are shown the wire connections 5 and 6 to the switch and socket,

and by comparison of Figures 1 to 4 1t will be readily understood that the current will pass-from one pole of a source of energy to a binding screw 7, and then through a con- 12 thereon to the center contact of an incandescent lamp (not shown). From the filament of the lamp the current will pass through the socket 1, a screw 13,- a conductive plate 14, and a binding screw 15 back to the opposite pole of the source of energy.

From this it will bemanifest that with the disc 10 in contact with the element 11 current will course through the filament of the lamp to cause said filament to glow. When, however, the disc 10 is not in contact with the element 11 no current will be supplied to the filament.

I denominate the element 10 a ratchet disc because it is provided at one side with spaced radial abutments 16. Said disc, however, is also provided with spaced contact arms 17, which form important parts of my invention. Retrograde rotation of the disc 10 is efiectually prevented by a pawl 18, Figures 3 and 5, which cooperates, as will be readily understood, with the said abutments 16,:and is adapted to yield and permit of rotationof the disc 10 in a clockwise direction. The contact arms 17 of the disc are provided with beveled forward portions 19, Figures 4 and 5, this provision being -made toifacilitate the passage of the sai arms 17 between the spaced and more or less resilient and flared shoes 20 on the contact member 11.

. Mounted to swing on the bolt 9 is a lever 21, having a handle 22.. Adjacent to the center of movement the said lever 21 is provided with detents 23, so positioned that they will simultaneousl On the return forward movement of the lever 21, however, the detent 23 will ride idly against the side of the. ratchet disc. A

spring 24 is-coiled about the bolt 9, Figures by depression of the lever 21, and it serves '60 ductive plate 8, through a bolt 9, a ratchet 'disc 10, a contact member 11 and a terminal engage abutments 16 on the disc 10in or er totransmitposi- -tive motion from the lever 21 to the disc.

, cally pointed out.

.liability in operation of the combination.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the bolt 9 is efi'ectually insulated from the conductive plate 14 through the medium of an insulating washer 30.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing that when the lever 21 is depressed and the disc 10 is thereby turned through a part of a revolution, one of the contact arms 17 of the disc will be positioned between the shoes 20 of the contact member 11, and, in consequence, the electrical current will be supplied tothe lamp as before specifi- When the disc 10 is turned, as stated, the pawl 18 will spring into engagement with the first abutment 16 that is presented to its free end, and the attendant click will apprise the operator of the fact that the connection has been made. Likewise when the lever 21 is subsequently depressed to interrupt the supply of current to the lamp, the click attending the new engagement of the pawl 18 will inform the operator that the current is cut off. Following each depression of the lever 21 and the release ofsaid lever the spring 24 will operate to promptly return the lever to the normal position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

It is believed that m novel switch will be readily understood fi'om the foregoing, and itis also thoughtthat in the light of such description the practical utility of the switch will be readily apparent.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 9 thepintle 9 serves to support the sleeve 9" which turns aboutthe pintle and back of the cap 2,-and is equipped in rear of the cap with a disc 20, whichbears on its face letters, words as shown, or other means calculated to visually indicate when the switch is on or in condition to establish circuit through the switch and when it is off or in position ,to interrupt the circuit through the switch. It will be observed in this construction that the disc 10 on sleeve 9 carries arms 10"'to make contact with terminals or contact members 11', and

is also provided with abutments 12" for the enga ement of detents 13' on the lever'14' which is mounted to swing about the sleeve and is subject to the action of a spring 15" having the two-fold capacity of function ascribed to the spring in the. other embodiment.

The operation of the last mentioned embodiment will be fully appreciated when it is stated that when the arms of the disc 10 are in contact with the terminals 11" the disc 1n rear of the closure cap 2 will indicate that the switch is in position to complete the circuit, while when said arms,

of the disc are out of contact with the terminals 11 the disc will indicate the interru tion in the circuit. t will be apparent that in both of the embodiments of m invention the workin parts of the switc are carried by a body of insulating material, and a closure means consisting of another body of insulating material or any other closure device, such as a cap, Figures 6 to 9, is suitably connected to the firstnamed body of insulating material with a view to covering and protecting the work ing parts of the switch. 7

It will also be apparent that in both of the embodiments shown and described, thecircuit is established and is interrupted by the step by step movement of a revoluble disc. From this it follows that each of the embodiments is possessed of the advantage of simplicity in construction, coupled with reliability in operation, and. this without the danger of fire being caused by the switch.

By reference to Figure 1 it will be noticed that a lateral projection 60 is provided on one section of the insulating body 2. This projection 60 serves to rest in. the slots or grooves provided in the insulating material and a socket shell (not shown), with a view to preventing the hand lover of m novel switch from bindin in the slot .t at is also provided in the said socket shell and the insulating lining thereof.

By comparison of Figures 7 to 9 it will be observed that a porcelain segment 14*,

connected by bolts as shown, is employed to close the slot in which the inner end of the from the foregoing v arranged in and connected with the body.

and having spaced arms arranged to wipe past and contact with said terminal and also having spaced abutments immediately back of said arms, yieldable means connected with the body to cooperate with said abutments and prevent retrograde rotation of the disk, and a lever connected with the body and extending from the same andhaving a detent arranged on movement of the lever in one direction to cooperate with said abutments in the step by step rotation of the disk.

In, testimony whereof I afiix si ature.

' OSCAR S. S A ON 

